NATIONAL HARBOR, MD - MARCH 02: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Donald Trump hugs the U.S. flag during CPAC 2019 on March 02, 2019 in National Harbor, Maryland. The American Conservative Union hosts the annual Conservative Political Action Conference to discuss conservative agenda. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

President Trump defended his extravagant Fourth of July speech after reports said that the National Parks Service is diverting $2.5 million to fund the military display.

Adding to the controversy, the fireworks companies donating the pyrotechnics are reportedly aiming to get off the hook for tariffs on their made-in-China products.

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“The cost of our great Salute to America tomorrow will be very little compared to what it is worth,” Trump tweeted.

The cost of our great Salute to America tomorrow will be very little compared to what it is worth. We own the planes, we have the pilots, the airport is right next door (Andrews), all we need is the fuel. We own the tanks and all. Fireworks are donated by two of the greats. Nice!

The Grucci and Phantom fireworks companies are donating an estimated $1.3 million worth of fireworks.

But they are also reportedly seeking to escape the threatened next round of Trump’s tariffs against products that are made in China, like virtually all the consumer fireworks sold in the U.S.

“These products … are critical not only to the livelihood of small family businesses ... but to millions of families and thousands of municipalities across our great Nation celebrating our Independence Day,” Julie Heckman, executive director for the American Pyrotechnics Association, wrote to Trump’s top trade negotiator a few weeks ago.

Independence Day celebrations are traditionally non-partisan events, but Trump is promoting it as a #MAGA campaign-style event.

VIP passes are being doled out to Republican donors and Trump reelection supporters through the White House and the Republican National Committee. GOP big wigs shrugged off the ticket giveaways as no different from the White House Easter egg hunt or other events, which are much smaller and not national in scope.

Donald Trump in the White House

Democrats have vowed to investigate whether the Parks Service and other federal agencies are acting appropriately by diverting funds to the speech when they were supposed to fund other needs. They have also raised questions about whether the military is being politicized under Trump.